Brett Kruse elected Warrick County sheriff

BOONVILLE, Ind. - Republican Brett Kruse was elected sheriff of Warrick County in Tuesday's balloting. Also on the GOP ticket, Joann Krantz will be the new prosecutor of the county.

With all precincts reporting, Kruse had 13,546 votes and Kerry Chapman, his Democratic opponent, had 6,995 votes.

Krantz had 12,555 votes compared to 7,569 for Dawyna Taylor, her Democratic challenger.

Kruse and Krantz assumed solid leads as early returns came in and added to their advantage as more and more votes were counted.

Kruse, an Elberfeld native, was Marvin Heilman's chief deputy.

Heilman has served two terms and could not seek re-election.

Chapman was chief deputy under former Sheriff Bruce Hargrave. Chapman has worked in law enforcement for 27 years with 23 years as a Warrick County sheriff's deputy.

Earlier Tuesday, Warrick County Clerk Sarah Topper said voting was proceeding "smoothly" and there were no problems.

Approximately 2,300 county residents cast early ballots, Topper said.

During the campaign, Chapman said at least one more full-time narcotics officer is needed.

Another point of emphasis, Chapman noted, was providing a higher visibility of officers in communities and business areas.

Kruse joined the sheriff's office in 1993. He has worked motor patrol and criminal investigations.

During the campaign, Kruse called himself "fiscally conservative" and vowed to work closely with men and women in Drug Court and "rehabilitate these offenders so they will again become productive members of the community."

Krantz's victory means she will be the first female prosecutor in the county.

Todd Corne, who took the job in 1994, did not seek re-election.

Krantz had been Corne's chief deputy since 2004.

Taylor has tried cases in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties as both a deputy prosecutor and as a defense attorney.

During the campaign, Krantz said her office would be committed to a victim-centered philosophy.

"Criminals make a choice and victims do not," Krantz said. "Victims of crime have the right to be treated with dignity and compassion."

Krantz noted that she was the only candidate with experience in the investigation and prosecution of homicide cases.

During the campaign, Taylor cited the "poor" record of convictions in sex cases, pointing out that of the 15 child-molesting cases filed in Warrick County in the last five years, seven have been dismissed.